Systems and methods for generating virtual item displays

• US 10,423,995 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carvana, LLC (Carvana Co.)
• Original Assignee: Carvana, LLC (Carvana Co.)
• Inventors: Garcia, III, Ernest C., Behrens, Nicole, Swofford, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz, Talha M
• Application Number:
  US15/228,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20160381323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/00 Animation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/80 2D [Two Dimensional] animation, e.g. using sprites
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2224 related to virtual studio applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments enable virtual displays of an item, such as vehicle, to be generated. In an embodiment, a plurality of images of an item may be captured and annotation may be provided to one or more of the images. In an embodiment, the plurality of images may be displayed, and the transition between each of the plurality of images may be an animated process. In an embodiment, an item imaging system may comprise a structure including one or more cameras and one or more lights, and the item imaging system may be configured to automate at least a portion of the process for capturing the plurality of images of an item.

Claims

1. A method for generating a virtual display of an item, comprising:

receiving, in a server, a series of images of an exterior of the item, wherein the images of the exterior of the item are from a roundhouse and wherein the roundhouse comprises;

an outer structure;

a first plurality of lights configured to indirectly illuminate the item;

three cameras each configured to capture images of the item from a different angle; and

a turntable centered within the outer structure;

controlling the three cameras, the first plurality of lights, and turntable to capture the series of images of the exterior of the item;

sending the series of images of the exterior of the item to the server;

receiving, in the server, a series of annotations of the images of the exterior of the item; and

sending, from the server, the series of annotations of the images and the images of the exterior of the item to be displayed at a consumer'"'"'s computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a series of images of an interior of the item; and

sending, from the server, the images of the interior of the item to be displayed at the consumer'"'"'s computing device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the images of the interior of the item are from a hot box.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the hot box comprises:

a plurality of lights configured to indirectly illuminate the item;

a panoramic camera;

a lift configured to adjust a height of the item; and

an arm connected to the panoramic camera and configured to support the panoramic camera and extend the panoramic camera into an interior space of the item; and

the method further comprising;

controlling the panoramic camera to capture the series of images of the interior of the item; and

sending the series of images of the interior of the item to the server.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, in the server, a selection of a next annotation of the series of annotations of the images.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising sending, from the server, an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images at the consumer'"'"'s computing device in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the item is a car.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein sending, via the server, an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations includes one or more of generating an animation using Bezier curves, generating an animation transitioning between one of the series of images of the exterior of the item and one of the series of images of the interior of the item, or generating an animation transitioning from one of the series of images of the exterior of the item to another one of the series of the images of the exterior of the item.

9. A system for hosting a virtual display of an item, comprising:

a server, comprising;

a first processor; and

a roundhouse, wherein the roundhouse comprises;

an outer structure;

a first plurality of lights configured to indirectly illuminate the item;

three cameras each configured to capture images of the item from a different angle;

a turntable centered within the outer structure; and

a second processor connected to the first plurality of lights and the three cameras,

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a series of images of an exterior of the item;

receiving a series of annotations of the images of the exterior of the item; and

sending the series of annotations of the images and the images of the exterior of the item to a consumer'"'"'s computing device for display in a virtual display, and

wherein the second processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

controlling the three cameras, the first plurality of lights, and the turntable to capture the series of images of the exterior of the item; and

sending the series of images of the exterior of the item to the server.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving a series of images of an interior of the item; and

sending the images of the interior of the item to the consumer'"'"'s computing device for display in the virtual display.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a hot box, wherein the images of the interior of the item are received from the hot box.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the hot box comprises:

a plurality of lights configured to indirectly illuminate the item;

a panoramic camera;

a lift configured to adjust a height of the item; and

an arm connected to the panoramic camera and configured to support the panoramic camera and extend the panoramic camera into an interior space of the item; and

a third processor connected to the panoramic camera, wherein the third processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

controlling the panoramic camera to capture the series of images of the interior of the item; and

sending the series of images of the interior of the item to the server.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

receiving a selection of a next annotation of the series of annotations of the images.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising sending an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images at the consumer'"'"'s computing device in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations such that sending an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images at the consumer'"'"'s computing device in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations includes one or more of generating an animation using Bezier curves, generating an animation transitioning between one of the series of images of the exterior of the item and one of the series of images of the interior of the item, or generating an animation transitioning from one of the series of images of the exterior of the item to another one of the series of the images of the exterior of the item.

16. A system for hosting a virtual display of an item, comprising:

a server;

a roundhouse; and

a hotbox,

wherein the server comprises;

means for receiving a series of images of an exterior of the item from the roundhouse;

means for receiving a series of images of an interior of the item from the hot box;

means for receiving a series of annotations of the images of the exterior of the item and the images of the interior of the item via the network interface;

means for sending the series of annotations of the images, the images of the exterior of the item, and the images of the interior of the item to a consumer'"'"'s computing device for display in a virtual display;

means for receiving a selection of a next annotation of the series of annotations of the images; and

means for sending an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images at the consumer'"'"'s computing device in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations, wherein the roundhouse comprises;

means for rotating the item;

means for capturing the series of images of the exterior of the item; and

means for sending the series of images of the exterior of the item to the server, wherein the hot box comprises;

means for capturing the series of images of the interior of the item; and

means for sending the series of images of the interior of the item to the server, and

wherein means for sending an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images at the consumer'"'"'s computing device in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations includes one or more of means for generating an animation using Bezier curves, means for generating an animation transitioning between one of the series of images of the exterior of the item and one of the series of images of the interior of the item, or means for generating an animation transitioning from one of the series of images of the exterior of the item to another one of the series of the images of the exterior of the item.

17. A non-transitory processor readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving a series of images of an exterior of the item from a roundhouse;

receiving a series of images of an interior of the item from a hot box;

receiving a series of annotations of the images of the exterior of the item and the images of the interior of the item;

sending the series of annotations of the images, the images of the exterior of the item, and the images of the interior of the item to a consumer'"'"'s computing device for display in a virtual display;

receiving a selection of a next annotation of the series of annotations of the images; and

sending an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images at the consumer'"'"'s computing device in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations, wherein the stored processor-executable instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform operations such that sending an animation to transition to displaying the selected next annotation of the series of annotations of the images at the consumer'"'"'s computing device in response to receiving the selection of the next annotation of the series of annotations includes one or more of generating an animation using Bezier curves, generating an animation transitioning between one of the series of images of the exterior of the item and one of the series of images of the interior of the item, or generating an animation transitioning from one of the series of images of the exterior of the item to another one of the series of the images of the exterior of the item.

18. A method for generating a virtual display of a vehicle, comprising:

controlling a camera, a light, and a turntable of a roundhouse to capture a series of images of an exterior of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is parked within the roundhouse while the series of images of the exterior of the vehicle are captured;

controlling a panoramic camera, a light, and an arm of a hot box to capture a series of images of an interior space of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle is parked on a lift of the hot box while the series of images of the interior space of the vehicle are captured;

receiving, in a server, the series of images of the exterior of the vehicle and the series of images of the interior of the vehicle;

receiving, in the server, a series of annotations of the series of images of the exterior of the vehicle and the series of images of the interior of the vehicle; and

sending, from the server, the series of annotations, the series of images of the exterior of the vehicle, and the series of images of the interior of the vehicle to be displayed at a consumer'"'"'s computing device.

19. A system for hosting a virtual display of a vehicle, comprising:

a server, comprising;

a first processor; and

a roundhouse, comprising;

an outer structure;

a first light configured to indirectly illuminate the vehicle;

a first camera configured to capture images of the vehicle;

a turntable centered within the outer structure; and

a second processor connected to the first light and first camera;

a hot box, comprising;

a second light configured to indirectly illuminate the vehicle;

a panoramic camera;

a lift configured to adjust a height of the vehicle; and

an arm connected to the panoramic camera and configured to support the panoramic camera and extend the panoramic camera into an interior space of the vehicle; and

a third processor connected to the panoramic camera,

wherein the first processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving a series of images of an exterior of the vehicle and a series of images of the interior of the vehicle;

receiving a series of annotations of the images of the exterior of the vehicle and the images of the interior of the vehicle; and

sending the series of annotations, the images of the exterior of the vehicle, and the images of the interior of the vehicle to a consumer'"'"'s computing device for display in a virtual display, and

wherein the second processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

controlling the camera, the first light, and the turntable to capture the series of images of the exterior of the vehicle; and

sending the series of images of the exterior of the vehicle to the server, and

wherein the third processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

controlling the panoramic camera to capture the series of images of the interior of the vehicle; and

sending the series of images of the interior of the vehicle to the server.